Holy Cross Crusader Nation Magazine - Fall 2019

T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R F A N S A N D S U P P O R T E R S O F H O LY C R O S S A T H L E T I C S

Blossom’s Path to Excellence

Fall 2019

The next era begins under new AD

Nelson brings championship vision to Mount St. James Pg. 3

Fall 2019 • Crusader Nation 1

AD’s Corner Fellow Crusaders, Welcome to another issue of Crusader Nation, our first of the 2019-20 year and my first leading this incredibly proud department.

It has been an exciting start to my first year at Holy Cross, and I want to thank you for the warm welcome I have received since arriving on Mount St. James. I have quickly seen how special this place is, and why it means so much to so many.

Many of our teams have had strong starts to their seasons, and October was an impactful month for our programs. Our men’s ice hockey team rocked the national hockey scene in its opener on October 11, stunning No. 6 Providence College on the road in overtime, 3-2, to earn one of the biggest wins in recent memory. Over a nine-day span, this team took three points away from nationally ranked opponents, adding a tie against No. 15 Northeastern on October 19. Women’s soccer knocked off Patriot League-leading Navy, 1-0, for the program’s first win over the Mids since 2000, and at the Lehigh Invitational, our Crusader men’s golf team wrapped up its fall segment with its first DI tournament victory since 1998.

Meanwhile, football has earned key wins over opponents from the Patriot League, the Ivy League and the CAA this season, and has the opportunity for more big wins in the coming weeks.

These are just a few highlights of the success we are finding on the fields of competition, but sporadic success is not our goal. There are new standards of athletic achievement that we will strive to meet over the coming months and years. We are building toward sustained success, not just in the classroom where we already shine, but in competition as well.

Academically in 2018-19, our student-athletes excelled once again, averaging a 3.23 GPA while collectively earning 442 Dean’s List recognitions. The recent release of the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rates ranked Holy Cross tied for seventh in the nation with an overall graduation rate of 98 percent—the 13th-straight year in which we have posted a GSR of 97 percent or higher.

Our student-athletes, coaches and staff continue to be active participants in our Holy Cross community and are dedicated to our mission as men and women for others through widespread work with local, regional and national service initiatives.

We are proud of our student-athletes and their accomplishments, and your investment will help power us to the next level of achievement on all fronts. I hope that we can count on your continued commitment to our success and that we see you on campus soon.

Go Cross Go!

Marcus Blossom Director of Athletics 2 Crusader Nation • Fall 2019

In This Issue 3 Coach’s Game Plan Brett Nelson

5 Paying it Forward

Kristi O’Connor ‘97

6 Student Spotlight

Kelly Nelson ’22, softball

7 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT...

Will Chen ’22, men’s tennis Maegan Moriarty ’20, women’s rowing

8 DETERMINATION DEFINES NEW AD

Marcus Blossom

10 RePOrT On ATHLeTICS FUNDRaISING 12 Catching Up With...

Michael Fess ’14

13 Crusaders Near You 14 Inaugural CAF Golf Classic 15 What I was Thinking

Liam Doran ’21, football

Crusader Nation PHOTOGRAPHERS The Patriot League, Gabe Rhodes, Mark Seliger, Gil Talbot, Matt Wright DESIGNER Michael Grinley T E L L U S W H AT YO U T H I N K : Write Crusader Nation Office of Advancement One College Street Worcester, MA 01610-2395 Email CrusaderNation@holycross.edu Call 508-793-2632 Send ideas, thoughts, and comments.

We want to hear from you!

Coach’s Game Plan Men’s Basketball Coach Brett Nelson First-year head coach set to lead Crusaders to the top

By Maura Sullivan Hill

I

t’s moving day when Brett Nelson calls from his home in Wisconsin to talk about his new job as the Holy Cross men’s basketball head coach. After five years as an assistant at Marquette University in Milwaukee, he’s taking his first head coaching job at Holy Cross.

He’s had the job for about a month at this point, but has spent most of that time on the road recruiting or at meetings on campus in Worcester. Now, it’s time to pack up the house where he lives with his wife, Jamie, and nine-year-old son, Eli, and head for the east coast to start their house hunt.

There is a lot that’s in flux for Coach Nelson these days, but what’s certain is his enthusiasm, not just for his first head coaching job, but that that job is at Holy Cross.

Fall 2019 • Crusader Nation 3

“I’m excited about the opportunity to be a head coach at a prestigious place like Holy Cross, and for my family and I to take this journey together,” Nelson said.

“I’m excited about working with [first-year athletics director] Marcus Blossom and the whole administration.

Our vision and values are really aligned, which is really important to me. I can’t wait to get out there in the community and ingrain myself not only on campus, but in Worcester and the surrounding areas and get to know people.”

At a press conference in July announcing Nelson’s hiring, Blossom echoed Nelson’s enthusiasm.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brett and Jamie Nelson and their son, Eli, to Mount St. James,” Blossom said.

“Brett is a dynamic competitor who is a proven winner as a player and coach. He has played for and coached with some of the best coaches in college basketball and has a proven track record of recruiting and developing student-athletes of character who will excel in the classroom and on the court.”

helped me prepare to take over this amazing program here at Holy Cross.”

During his five years at Marquette—including two as associate head coach—Nelson helped the Golden Eagles earn two trips to the NCAA Tournament and one trip to the National Invitation Tournament. He has also worked as an assistant coach at Ball State University, Drake University, Marshall University, and the University of Arkansas. A West Virginia native, Nelson had a standout college basketball career as a point guard at the University of Florida, where he was a three-year starter. He played on four NCAA Tournament teams at Florida, including the 2000 team that reached the national championship game.

Nelson says those experiences as a player help in the day-to-day team management as a coach.

“I know what it feels like to be a starter on a championship team, to play in a Final Four. I also know what it feels like to come off the bench or get knocked out in the first round,” Nelson said.

“Being able to put myself back in their shoes and have grace for what they’re going through has allowed me to be a much better coach, to communicate the right way, be empathetic, and also hold guys accountable on a daily basis.”

Nelson’s goal for his first season is to build habits that will sustain success for the Crusader men’s basketball program. Between summer recruiting trips, he says he has been consumed by the details and standards that will govern the team this year.

“How we practice—my goal is to be the best practice team in the country. How we handle ourselves in the

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When the Crusaders tip off at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex in November, Jamie and Eli will be in the stands cheering. Nelson said his family will come to all the home games, and that his son is fortunate to grow up around role models like Holy Cross basketball players.

“Holy Cross offers something that was important to me—the opportunity for players to get the best of both worlds, an elite basketball experience in a program with tradition and history and an unbelievable education, a degree that really matters. They will be part of this community for the rest of their lives,” Nelson said. “One of the reasons I loved the Holy Cross job is because the fans and the former players and the alumni have high expectations. That’s the type of program I want to be a part of, because I have those same aspirations and expectations.”

The 2019-20 season will mark Nelson’s 15th year coaching college basketball, and he says he is ready for the challenges and responsibilities that come with running his own program.

“I always had in the back of my mind that when my playing days were over, I wanted to get into college coaching, so I’ve been preparing for this for 20 years,” Nelson said. “I’ve been an assistant for 14 years at all different levels in college basketball, which has allowed me to see things done a lot of different ways, which has really

Holy Cross community, as players and more importantly as people, whether we are on campus or out in the community—all that stuff translates to wins and losses. Is our locker room clean? Are we all dressed the same when we travel?” he said. “This first year, that’s going to carry us to success later down the line, and that’s what’s really important to me. Yes, my vision is to win championships, but not just to do it in one year. My vision is to sustain success, and to do that you need to have alignment and believe in your system. You gotta do things the right way and then you gotta do it again the next day and so on.”

Nelson becomes the 18th head coach in program history.

By Maura Sullivan Hill, a freelance writer in Chicago.

Paying it Forward Kristi O’Connor ’97

A three-time school record holder, O’Connor still cherishes her Holy Cross connection.

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ary O’Connor’s middle name is Carlin, for the dorm on the Holy Cross campus where her mom, Kristi (Spissinger) O’Connor ’97, lived during her senior year. Mary, who is 9, thinks it’s a little funny that she is named after a building, but as O’Connor told Mary during a visit to campus to see Carlin Hall, “It was such a special place to me. I lived there with all my best friends.”

These days, O’Connor is a mom of two—Mary and her older brother, Donal— and the director of development at Buckingham Brown and Nichols School in Cambridge, Mass.

When she was at Holy Cross, O’Connor was a standout swimmer for the Crusaders, holding school records in the 50-yard, 100-yard, and 200-yard breaststroke at the time of her graduation.

The Plattsburgh, N.Y., native grew up swimming in Lake Champlain and says she “couldn’t get enough” of the sport. She took lessons whenever and wherever her parents could find teachers, including at a local Howard Johnson pool, until she joined a club team and her high school swim team. O’Connor says she always had an affinity for the breaststroke, and it

became her specialty when she arrived on The Hill and started breaking records.

But swimming was not the only reason she chose Holy Cross—having a wellrounded education was important to O’Connor.

“There was a true balance between athletics and academics. Swimming was important to me—it helped me focus, gave me an outlet, and I loved the camaraderie of being on a team, so I really wanted to experience that in college,” O’Connor says.

“Holy Cross was the kind of program and environment that allowed me to be serious about my swimming and continue to improve and advance, but I was also able to explore other interests I had, like student government and residence life.”

O’Connor’s first foray into the fundraising and development world was working with the Holy Cross Fund, which she says was a “special place [to learn the job], because I felt so closely connected to the mission.”

She also worked in development at Harvard University and spent eight years at Kingsley Montessori School as director of advancement before moving to her new role at BB&N.

“Education is something I believe in deeply, and what motivates me every day is thinking about how we are providing students with opportunities to grow and learn and develop,” she says of her work. “And whether it is alums or parents or friends, I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to create connections and forge or strengthen relationships that enable people to do really great things for students.”

That’s also the reason that it is important to her to support Holy Cross.

O’Connor’s husband, Brian, is also a class of 1997 graduate, and they make it a priority to support the College financially. O’Connor

has also served as a class chair for many years.

“I remember being at our 20th reunion two years ago and feeling like I still know what’s going on with so many people, and that’s largely because of the opportunities I’ve had to stay in touch and help keep our class connected as a class chair,” she says.

“It feels like the natural thing to do to express my gratitude through volunteerism and financial support, to ensure that others will have an opportunity like I did, to have that special experience at Holy Cross.”

By Maura Sullivan Hill, a freelance writer in Chicago.

Fall 2019 • Crusader Nation 5

Student spotlight Kelly Nelson ’22 Softball

Kelly Nelson (Norton, Mass.) came to Holy Cross in the fall of 2018 with the reputation of breaking records, having set the new all-time Massachusetts high school softball strikeout mark. She continued her record-breaking ways as a Crusader, setting the program single-season strikeout record. If she keeps it up as a sophomore, she will be well on her way to topping the all-time program list. Her efforts in 2019 earned her second team All-Patriot League and third team All-Northeast Region honors. Nelson’s success also afforded her the opportunity to compete with the Irish National Team in the European Championship in the summer of 2019.

Q You had an impressive freshman

season. You set the program singleseason strikeout record, came one shy of tying the NCAA record for strikeouts in a game, threw the program’s first no-hitter since 2013. The list goes on. To what do you attribute all of this success?

us doubted that we were going to win that game, and that confidence helped me to keep going until the final out. It was so rewarding to get the win that we all worked so hard for. It was such an amazing feeling to come out on top after 16 long and intense innings.

A

I attribute my success to my teammates around me and our dedication to our preseason preparation.

My teammates give everything 100 percent and support everyone to be their best, and that is so inspiring. It created a team atmosphere that led each of us, including myself, to discover what we can do and push ourselves toward success, both personally and as a whole team.

Q What are your personal and team goals for your sophomore season?

A

Q Do you have a favorite moment from your first year?

A

My favorite memory from freshman year was our 16-inning game against Jacksonville (Fla.). The whole game, the team atmosphere was electric. There was so much energy from start to finish and the team fed off that and each other. Throughout the course of all 16 innings, none of

6 Crusader Nation • Fall 2019

A

Playing for Ireland is such an amazing experience. This summer I faced the best batters I have ever faced in my life. Just to get the opportunity to pitch against national champions, professional softball players and Olympians is an honor. It also taught me so much about myself and what I need to do to compete against that caliber of player. Playing for my country and representing my heritage also gives me so much pride and a greater appreciation for the sport of softball and its power to bring people together.

Q For the second summer in a row, you played with the Irish national softball team. What was that experience like for you as an individual?

How was playing overseas different from playing at Holy Cross?

Personally, I want to incorporate the lessons I learned about the mental side of softball in Europe into my pitching here, and make sure I stick to who I am as a pitcher throughout the season.

In terms of the whole team, I am excited for us to come together again and practice harder than ever to win a Patriot League championship!

By Curtis Stoychoff, Assistant Director of Media Relations

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thingstoknowabout..

Will Chen ’22 Men’s Tennis

Currently in his sophomore season on the Holy Cross men’s tennis team, Chen is looking to continue the high level of play he achieved as a freshman. The team’s No. 1 singles player for nearly every contest, Chen went undefeated in dual matches in the fall of 2018. He led the team with nine wins on the year in singles play and was tied for the team lead with 11 wins in doubles competition.

1 2 3 4 5

Chen participated in numerous ITA tennis tournaments over the summer.

A three-year member of his high school tennis team, he led the team to a Western Mass. title all three years.

Chen is majoring in economics.

He is a first generation Chinese-American and is the first in his family to go to college.

Chen is from Longmeadow, Mass.

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Maegan Moriarty ’20 Women’s Rowing

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Moriarty is a mainstay in the Crusaders’ varsity eight boat and has been serving as a team captain since the 2018-19 season. In her career, Moriarty is a three-time selection to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chen completed an internship at Western Builders in Granby, Mass., this past summer, working in the accounting department.

I n his free time off the tennis court, Chen enjoys fishing for striped bass.

He started playing tennis when he was five years old. hen has been ranked in the New England Top 10 in the 14 & C Under, 16 & Under, and 18 & Under divisions. ome of his favorite Netflix shows include The Society, Stranger S Things and Riverdale.

aegan is a two-year captain of the women’s rowing team and M has competed in every race in the varsity eight boat since her sophomore season. he is majoring in Spanish and Latin American, Latinx, and S Caribbean Studies. aegan is conducting research this academic year on education M politics and teachers in Latin American with Professor ChambersJu in the Political Science department. aegan is from Old Lyme, Conn., and because of this, the M name of her town lacrosse team was The Ticks.

This summer, Maegan interned on the eCommerce Commercial Sales team at PepsiCo Headquarters in both White Plains, N.Y. and New York City.

She attended and boarded at Phillips Exeter Academy.

She has studied five different languages: English, Latin, Spanish, French and Russian.

In 2018-19, she was the Head Resident Assistant of Carlin Hall.

In the summer of 2017, Maegan worked as an event security guard at Mohegan Sun Casino for concerts like Ed Sheeran, Kenny Chesney, and Kings of Leon.

In the summer of 2017, she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain.

Fall 2019 • Crusader Nation 7

Determination Defines Blossom speaks at the dedication of the Parenteau Swimming & Diving Offices on October 19.

H

is voice filled with the same determination that propelled him from walk-on to leading scorer of the Northeastern men’s basketball team, Marcus Blossom explained his plans for Holy Cross Athletics simply.

“The goal is to be the best,” said the new director of athletics. “It’s to be the best in the league. Overall, the best program in the league.”

Blossom comes to Worcester from Boston College where he was the senior associate athletics director for business and finance, essentially the athletics depart8 Crusader Nation • Fall 2019

ment’s CFO. He was the money guy, the person in charge of the numbers.

Blossom, well aware of all those numbers, knows his task is to reverse that trend.

He’s faced with a different numbers problem at Holy Cross. In 2018-19, the numbers didn’t add up to as much as the Crusaders had hoped. Of the 27 varsity teams, only two—women’s basketball and women’s swimming & diving—had winning records.

“The people are the most important,” said Blossom. “The coaches, the administrators, the students just working at it every day. Getting better every day and not settling for anything less than excellence. This is our end goal [to be the best], but we’re just trying to get better every day and, at some point, we’re going to get there.”

The Patriot League awards the Presidents’ Cup to the school that has the best cumulative record, and Holy Cross has consistently finished in the middle of the pack.

The path to excellence will include some changes, which is a necessity given the recent results.

New AD Blossom “We’re going to have to do some things structurally different,” said Blossom. “We’ve got to fund it a little bit differently.

We have to find a way to get student-athletes here who can excel in both athletics and academics. We have to get as many alumni as possible behind us.

visible ones are football, basketball and hockey.

“I think it’s a thin line between winning and losing. I don’t think the gap is big. I know some of the records aren’t what we want them to be, but I still think the line is thin.

We can make some cultural changes and some structural changes. Some of it has to be a bit of luck, but with some things you have to change the way you do business. We’re going to do things differently—we have to.”

“Winning in basketball can help facilitate the success of all our programs,” he said.

Blossom has only been on the job for a few months, but one thing was clear as he made his way around the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex—everyone in the building knew who he was.

He greeted everyone with a smile and a big hello. He crossed paths with men’s basketball coach Brett Nelson, who was hosting a recruit. Blossom quickly and effortlessly jumped into the conversation with the recruit and his family.

“We need to identify a couple of teams that, one, can win, and two, need to win to really benefit the athletics department and the College as a whole,” he said.

Blossom stresses that all the teams are important, but he also knows the most

“Football was 5-6, 4-2 in the league last year,” said Blossom. “We have a good young coach [Bob Chesney]. He’s hungry, he’s energetic, he’s a leader. I think we’re closer there than some sports.”

And given Holy Cross’ history, basketball is exceedingly important to the College.

Blossom found himself having to hire a men’s basketball coach before he even officially started on the job, when Bill Carmody unexpectedly retired. He quickly hired Nelson, a former player at the University of Florida and an associate head coach at Marquette University.

By Joe Sullivan

level, but also for great academics, a safe campus, a good environment and a great alumni base. I think this place is perfectly suited for women’s basketball success, because we have all that to offer and more here at Holy Cross.”

Blossom expects to be successful, just like he did when he walked on to the Northeastern basketball team after entering school on an academic scholarship. When that overall success will occur is uncertain.

“We want to do it the right way, but we need to have a sense of urgency,” he said. “I think some teams are go-

“It didn’t take long,” he said about finding a new coach. “I’m analyzing coaches all the time. I knew what this level needed, what kind of coach I would be looking for. I wanted someone who could improve our offensive efficiency.

I was also looking for a coach who can attract and develop elite guards. I think you win in college basketball with great guard play.

“We’re going to be great partners,” Blossom added. “I’m looking forward to contributing to Brett’s success, not only for that program individually but because I know what success there can mean for the College.”

Blossom also thinks Holy Cross is ideally suited to be successful in women’s basketball.

“Women’s basketball is the place where we can have big-time success,” he said.

“I am excited about the potential of all our women’s sports. So many women are selecting colleges for the right reasons—not only to compete at a high

Blossom, who was introduced as the new Director of Athletics on May 14, 2019, officially joined the Crusaders on July 1. ing to be successful this year. Some of them are already on that trajectory. In a couple of years, this place will look a lot different from a win-loss perspective than it does now.”

Joe Sullivan worked at the Boston Globe for 24 years and was sports editor from 2004-2018.

Fall 2019 • Crusader Nation 9

Donor support of athletics during the 2019 fiscal year made a difference to all programs and student-athletes. The collective generosity of thousands of members of the Crusader community provided Holy Cross Athletics with the resources to improve the experience of more than 700 studentathletes on our campus and to help them reach their full potential. Lessons in confidence, discipline, time management, teamwork, resilience and leadership were learned. Lifelong friendships were devel-

10 Crusader Nation • Fall 2019

oped. Lives were changed. A total of $11.5 million was contributed.

through the Fund for Athletics Excellence to use where the money is needed most.

A record-breaking number of donors made gifts to the Crusader Athletics Fund (CAF); 4,670 people gave $2.1 million. CAF raises unrestricted annual support for the College’s 27 varsity programs, providing resources for recruiting, equipment, travel, technology and assistant coaches’ salaries.

CAF also makes current-use discretionary funds available to the Director of Athletics

Fifty-six percent of former student-athletes made gifts to the College, and 32.5 percent made gifts to CAF. Forty-five percent of current parents of student-athletes gave to athletics.

For the fourth year in a row, 100 percent of senior student-athletes gave as a part of the senior class gift initiative.

the partnership and generosity of the many devoted friends of Crusader Athletics who make a difference to our student-athletes, coaches and teams. Your support of our programs and our student-athletes truly makes a difference.

Your investment in them and in Holy Cross is very much appreciated.

Fall 2019 • Crusader Nation 11

CATCHING UP WITH...

Michael Fess ’14

Football alumnus finds passion and purpose in the classroom

Y

ou won’t find textbooks or worksheets in the seventh grade social studies classroom where Michael Fess ’14 teaches at Catholic Memorial, a school for boys in grades 7-12 in West Roxbury, Mass. Instead, you might hear a debate about whether violence is the right course of action for a group protesting the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required that escaped slaves be returned to their masters. Or, a reenactment of the Hartford Convention, a meeting of New England states during the War of 1812 where the states considered seceding from the United States because they disagreed with the war against England.

It’s all part of the Perspectives of Citizenship course that Fess designed for Catholic Memorial, where he is a teacher, coach and assistant athletics director.

“I focus on nonviolent protest because of the political climate we’re in now.

There is not much bipartisanship,” says Fess, who was a record-breaking wide

receiver on the football team and history major at Holy Cross. “Being able to create situations in the classroom where students can participate in civil discourse and have authentic learning experiences through history, but also relating it to what is going on today, develops skills that they could use outside the classroom and beyond.”

Fess spent the summer of 2019 as a Swensrud Teacher Fellow at the Massachusetts Historical Society, delving into primary source research to improve the course when he teaches it for the second time this school year.

Fess credits his Holy Cross education professor, David Roach, with encouraging him to pursue teaching, plus some family influence. Fess’ father is a teacher and his mother works at a school in his native New Jersey, and he says he took his first education class “to relate to them, maybe bring some stuff up at the dinner table, and [then] I really loved it.”

It was at Roach’s urging that Fess—who won the Crusader of the Year Award as a senior and holds the Holy Cross football record for most career receptions at 209—joined the PLACE Corps after graduation. PLACE, or Partners in Los Angeles Catholic Education, is Loyola Marymount University’s graduate teacher education program. Fess taught at an under-resourced Catholic school in Los Angeles for two years while earning a master’s degree in education, and the experience affirmed his commitment to teaching.

Fess and fellow Crusader Ally Pasquariello ‘15 tied the knot this past September.

12 Crusader Nation • Fall 2019

“I had never been to LA, or even west of Ohio, before I went out there to start my experience,” Fess says. “It made me grow up, and grow in many different ways—professionally, spiritually. Holy

Cross prepared me for that, and it steered me towards staying in education.”

Roach continues to mentor Fess, and the duo keep in touch by phone and also enjoy meeting for lunch.

“Mike has a tremendous capacity for leadership,” says Roach. “He certainly has the capacity to become a very good educational leader and I hope he sticks to that path.”

Fess sees himself doing just that, saying “I feel my calling to be in an administrative position, a principal, maybe a superintendent.”

For now, he’ll continue teaching and coaching at Catholic Memorial, where he works with receivers on the varsity football team and coaches the freshman basketball team in addition to his assistant athletics director duties. He landed the job thanks to the support of the Holy Cross network—fellow Crusader football alum Dennis J. Golden ’89 was the head football coach at CM when Fess was hired. And, Fess married a fellow Crusader student-athlete in September, soccer player Ally Pasquariello ’15.

“The whole gamut of academics, athletics [at Holy Cross]—it broadened my horizons and opened my eyes to new things,” Fess says. “It gave me structure, gave me purpose, and it really pushed me to finding what I want to do, and that’s teaching and being in education and making an impact in students’ lives. I’ll be forever grateful for my time at Holy Cross.”

By Maura Sullivan Hill, a freelance writer in Chicago.

Calendar Crusaders Near You

Can’t get to campus? Your Crusaders are hitting the road and taking on opponents across the nation.

Check out a few places outside the Northeast where you can catch Holy Cross in action!

California

Dec. 7 Men’s Basketball at University of San Diego for the Boca Raton Beach Classic Feb. 29March 3 Baseball at Cal State Bakersfield March 5-8 Baseball at UC Riverside

Colorado

Dec. 6 Men’s Hockey at Air Force Dec. 7 Men’s Hockey at Air Force

Florida

Nov. 29 Men’s Basketball vs. Florida Atlantic for the Boca Raton Beach Classic Dec. 1 Men’s Basketball vs. Hofstra for the Boca Raton Beach Classic Dec. 2 Men’s Basketball vs. Canisius/Mercer for the Boca Raton Beach Classic Dec. 28 Women’s Basketball at North Florida Dec. 30 Women’s Basketball at Stetson March 3 Softball at Florida State March 4 Softball at Florida A&M March 6-8 Softball at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach

South Carolina

Feb. 14-16 Softball at the Winthrop Softball Tournament in Rock Hill Feb. 14-16 Baseball at University of South Carolina

• S AV E T H E DAT E • Power of Purple Giving Day January 24-25, 2020

Mark your calendar for Power of Purple Giving Day on January 24-25, 2020. We’ll come together to invest in the success of Crusader student-athletes. Last year’s Giving Day generated $240,000 in financial support for our 27 varsity programs, thanks to the generosity of over 2,000 donors.

To make a gift today or on January 24-25, 2020, please visit GoHolyCross.com/CAF or call the Crusader Athletics Fund at 508-793-2632.

Winter Homecoming January 25, 2020

Home Events 1:05 p.m. Women’s Ice Hockey vs. New Hampshire 2:05 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Boston University 7:05 p.m. Men’s Hockey vs. Air Force For the full schedule of winter homecoming events, visit holycross.edu/alumni/crusadersconnect/homecoming.

Virginia

Feb. 21-23 Baseball at Old Dominion Fall 2019 • Crusader Nation 13

Inaugural CAF Golf Classic Draws Incredible Support On Monday, July 29, Holy Cross Athletics held its inaugural Crusader Athletics Fund Golf Classic. It was a remarkable day celebrating the past, present and future of Holy Cross Athletics!

The outing was held at Baltusrol Golf Club, a premier, private golf course in Springfield, New Jersey. Baltusrol has been home to seven U.S. Opens, as well as hosted the PGA Championship in 2005 and 2016.

The nearly 100 golfers who participated in the event played 18 holes with a caddie on the PGA Championship Lower Course. In addition, all participants received exclusive Holy Cross Athletics player gifts. There was a brunch served before the shotgun start and the event concluded with a cocktail reception later in the evening.

The outing saw incredible support for Holy Cross Athletics by raising over $100,000 for the Crusader Athletics Fund, with $65,000 being raised from our generous sponsors. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit our 27 varsity programs and 700 studentathletes on The Hill.

Overall, the event drew tremendous support in its first year and provided a unique experience for everyone in attendance. Stay tuned for more information on the second annual CAF Golf Classic in 2020.

14 Crusader Nation • Fall 2019

What I Was Thinking

“I was extremely excited in this moment, and I

just threw my arms into the air and ran to the sideline as fast as I could. I originally thought it was a safety, but then I saw that the ball had come out and Joe Lang was able to jump on it in bounds for the touchdown. It was incredible that we were able to win the game on that play.”

Linebacker Liam Doran ’21 (No. 44), after forcing a fumble that led to the game-winning touchdown in Holy Cross’ 13-10 victory over New Hampshire Sept. 7, 2019 Fitton Field Fall 2019 • Crusader Nation 15

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